What views do you have on Saabs? considering purchasing an M reg 900 for £700. I know they are dead reliable but what do the garage costs look like for older ones (parts are expensive) and what kinda things usually go wrong? any good or bad experiences please. DOn't have much money but live in the countryside so need a really reliable car - my job also involves driving about a lot.
2006-10-12 10:49:59 · 17 answers · asked by jennymilluk 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Saab
I really dislike fords - yes the parts are cheap but they go every 10 minutes because of it - I'm willing to pay more for less hassle and longer life.
2006-10-12 11:01:45 · update #1
stick to the years 89' thu 92' great cars, turbo is a must. only use a macanic who knows them. parts are cheap thru ebay. saabnet.com has all the awnsers when something gose wrong, learn to live w/ a saggy headliner, and buy extra window switches. enjoy
2006-10-12 13:44:56 · answer #1 · answered by johnhassay 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have an 93-Aero on an '03 plate. I love this car. It looks great, with the body kit, alloys, etc and it really moves. I have never had any major reliability issues with it, BUT it has had many minor niggles - one of it's xenon headlights had to be realigned and it has had a wheel bearing replaced (thankfully both under warranty). I think a wheel bearing in the rear is on the way out, as I have an intermittent noise from there. It also has an irritating rattle in the front passenger door, which Saab tell me can be fixed with some special tape next time it goes in. Oh, and the clock keeps gaining time and needing to be reset. As I said above, I love the car, but it does have more faults than my previous car, which was a plain old Ford Focus. It's also been recalled twice for various things - seatbelt to be fixed, something else that I can't remember.
2006-10-13 10:02:48 · answer #2 · answered by Rosemary C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always driven saabs I think they are teriffic and they will go on for ever. The old classic shape is the best... particularly the hatch back, there is so much room.
I Now drive a saab 9.3 I love it but not as much as my old 900i ...that one is still being driven around and it is 15 years old... the one I had before that was running at over 20 years and could still be for all I know. I never found parts too expensive but I did find a good independent garage that specialised in saabs.. .. The only major thing that ever went wrong with one of my saabs was the clutch, but that could happen with any car.
Go for it.
2006-10-12 11:06:51 · answer #3 · answered by ragdoll 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not uncommon for Saab 900 to hit over 300,000 miles before end of life, not many cars can do this, even Honda's and Toyota's (which would be my recommendation if you don't need your car to last forever).
If you do need your car to last forever, stick with your Saab 900 idea, cheap enough to buy, no worse than any other car to maintain (alot easier in many respects) and as already said, parts are cheap enough from Euro-parts or GFS.
Nice drive also, drives like a very heavy jet fighter. Fuel could be your only issue, not the most economical car you could buy, but then, style costs.
2006-10-12 11:12:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saabs aren't so hot on reliability. The first list below is more of a quality metric. The second list is reliability (Saab is in that list too).
Consumer Reports ranking, by Automaker brand, problems per 100 vehicles:
Subaru 8
Honda 9
Acura 10
Toyota 10
Hyundai 11
Infiniti 11
Lexus 11
Audi 12
Mini 13
Ford 15
Pontiac 15
Cadillac 16
Chevrolet 16
Chrysler 16
GMC 16
Jeep 16
Mazda 16
Saab 16
Dodge 17
Mercury 17
Volvo 17
Buick 18
Nissan 19
Saturn 19
BMW 21
Volkswagen 23
Mercedes-Benz 25
Lincoln 26
CR's least reliable sedans:
SEDANS: Jaguar S-Type, Lincoln LS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Saab 9-3, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 5-Series (V8), Audi A8, Chrysler 300 (V8)*, BMW 7 series
2006-10-12 15:00:56 · answer #5 · answered by Prof. Frink 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whilst the saab is certainly a nice car I would advise against it.
Reliability isn't that great and parts/ general running costs will be high - as you would expect from any small volume manufacturer.
A new saab would be ok as they are now gm so share parts with vauxhalls. Though personally I believe this erode's some of the appeal.
If in doubt I would buy japanese - they are head and shoulders above any other marque in terms of reliability (this includes german brands - vw lost their way in the late 90's).
2006-10-12 11:01:57 · answer #6 · answered by James B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saabs are pretty reliable if they have been serviced regulary and looked after.Best to get a AA or RAC inspection.Avoid crash damaged ones unless they have been repaired by Saab..
Rust should'nt be a problem cos they were designed for Nordic weather,but if it has a turbo get that checked as that'll cost a packet to fix..
Parts are pretty expensive if u go to a dealer but companies like Euro car parts do them considerably cheaper.Body panels you could probably pick them up at a scrap yard.
Check all the electrics especially the heated seats if they have them.
Good luck with whatever you get...
2006-10-12 11:01:51 · answer #7 · answered by Red 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Liveing in Hertfordshire... Genuine SAAB Parts and dealership labour are both extortion !! but yeah, reliability is good.
Having said that, BMW parts are no cheaper for cars of similar age.
I'd say.... Buy a Volvo, and take a course in basic mechanics.
2006-10-12 11:02:45 · answer #8 · answered by mittobridges@btinternet.com 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have just taken delivery (two weeks ago) of a SAAB 9-5 Aero and the radio has already packed up!!
2006-10-13 23:18:06 · answer #9 · answered by Semore 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
saabs are ok, but if you are on a budget get a ford escort or some other ord. Why, because parts are cheaper and the car is cheap to fix.
2006-10-12 10:55:26 · answer #10 · answered by robertk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋